Nemesis - Gradius
Original title: Nemesis - The Final Challenge
Alternative title: Gradius   (US, Japan)
Platform: Commodore 64
Gametype: Undefined
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The people of Gradius are in trouble. The ameoboid Bacterions have launched an all out attack against the planet, and it's up to you to fly into battle and save them. Along the way you'll be able to power up your ship with hyper speed, force fields, lasers, missiles, double beam cannons and more to help you battle. 

Based on the arcade game, Gradius is a side-scrolling shooter. Shooting certain enemies will leave a power up pod behind which can be collected to add more power to your ship. Each level features a wide variety of enemies trying to stop you, with a large boss at the end. Gameplay is for one player or two players alternating.

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"The Planet Nemesis, a peaceful Earth-like world, is now under an 
 all-out space attack from its old enemies, being from the sub-space 
 star cluster of Bacterion. The people of Nemesis are in danger of 
 being completely destroyed by the amoeboid Bacterions. 

 To save them, you have just launched the prototype hyper-space figher, 
 the Warp Rattler. The entire galaxy awaits your duel to the death with 
 the evil Bacterions. 

 Your objective is the Bacterion superfortress, Xaerous. To reach this, 
 you must steal the enemy power capsules along your route and boost the 
 Warp Rattler's hyper-powers. 

 You are the last hope for the gentle people of Nemesis! You will need 
 all your courage and concentration to win. Get ready to blast off!! 

 HOW TO PLAY 

 Enemy craft will keep attacking your ship. You need to repel these 
 attacks to progress on to the next stage. Besides these regular 
 attacks, in each stage you will be confronted by a major enemy alien 
 creature, if you can destroy this enemy you can pass on to the next 
 stage. 

 The Warp Rattler is fast, but is <sic!> armament is not enough to meet 
 the enemy's attacks. You must get regular boosts from the enemy 
 capsules to increase your supply of weapons. 

 CONTROLLING THE WARP RATTLER 

 Keyboard controls: Left=Z, Right=X, Up=;, Down=/, Fire=Return, 
 Select weapon=Shift 
 Joystick controls: Left, Right, Up, Down, Fire, Select weapon=Shift 
 M=toggles between music/sound effects 
 P=Pause 
 Press Space Bar to select number of players."

Alternate Titles
"Nemesis" -- Game Boy / European Arcade & Computer title

Trivia

 The coin-op arcade version of this game was such a success, rumor has it that it caused a coin shortage in Japan. 

 The NES version was the first game to use the famous Konami Code. 
In the arcade game, players could carry up to four options. Due to technical limits of the NES, here they can only have two.

Power Play
1987 - #3 Best C64 Game '87

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Description from the packaging  (Gradius - US version) :

It's a duel to the death with the evil Bacterions!
You are the last hope of the gentle people of Gradius.
You've just lifted off to confront the all-out attack of the amoeboid Bacterions.
Your hyper-space fighter is armed with one of the greatest arsenals in the galaxy. Air-to-surface and double beam lasers for incredible firepower. Powerful force shields for protection. Time and space warps for fleeing the dimension.
You'll need it all to survive.
Because at the heart of thew Bacterion Empire lies the Xaerous Superfortress- the nerve center of all-knowing, all-seeing Bacterion Bio-Computer.
It's a duel to the death.
While the entire galaxy watches. Waits. And hopes.



http://www.mobygames.com/game/c64/gradius
Issue 01/1990 - Best Nintendo Game in 1989
